Combination license-plate and tail-light structure



AD..23,1924. f l'1,520,257

f' y R. l.. MORLAN ET Al.-

COMBINATION LCBNSE PLAT 2ND TAIL LIGHT STRUCTURE /NVENTORS Foss Lltaflan Lor/f J Gastello Patented Dec. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROSS L. MORLAN AND LOUIS J'. COSTELLO, OF DES MOINES,'IOWA.

COMBINATION LICENSE-PLATE AND TAIL-LIGHT STRUCTURE.

Application led February 27, 1924. Serial No. 695,428.

To all l'1o/Loin. t may concern.'

Be it known that we, Ross L. MORLAN and LOUIS J. COSTELLO, citizens ofthe United States, and residents of Des Moines, in the county of Polkand State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful CombinationLicense-Plate and Tail-Light Structure, of which the following` is aspecification.

The object of our invention is to provide a combination license plateand tail light structure of simple, inexpensive, and durableconstruction. y

A further object is to provide such a structure embodying a casing soarranged and constructed as to support a license plate and a transparentmember and to support in addition an electric light bulb in such manneras to furnish a tail light and illumination for the license plate fromthe single bulb.

A further and more particular object is to provide such a devicecomprising a casing having a front wall provided with an opening toreceive a license plate support and frame, the device being providedwith suitable means for holding said frame in place.

A further object is to provide such a casing having in its upper portiona trans` parent member to remit the rays of the tail li ht.

gA further and important object is to provide in such a device, a casinghaving :i back member with a lower portion inclined upwardly andrearwardly from its bottoni edge, and an upper portion inclined upwardlyand forwardly from its bottom edge, and to mount :in the lower portion abulb adapted to throw light rays through the perforated number plate andthrough the triansparent member.

With these and other objects in view, our invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of ourdevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in our claim, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an elevation of a license plate and tail light embodyingour invention.

Figure 2 shows a vertical, sectional view taken on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view partly in section of the rear face ofthe license pliate frame.

Figure et is a perspective view from the rear of the means for mountingthe devicel on a motor vehicle; and

Figure 5 is a perspective, sectional viev. taken on the line 5 5 ofFigure 1.

In the accompanying drawings, we have shown a casing comprising thehorizontal, lower wall or bottom indicated by the reference character10.

Extending upwardly and rearwardly from- The upper portion o-f the casinghas a front wall 14 in the central part of which is an opening 15 forthe sight glass o-rxlens forming part of the tail light structure.

Supported on the rear side of the front wall 111 is an annular frame orthe like 16 between which and the wall 1st is mounted the lens 17. Atthe ends of the casing are the end walls 18.

Secured to the forward portions of the end walls 18 near the bottomthereof and adjiacent to the lower edge of the front wall 14 are angles19. v

Ve provide a rectangular frame 20 having at its ends the rearwardlyextending flanges 21, which terminate at their upper ends just short ofthe upper edge of the frame 20. At its lower edge, the frame 20 has arearwardlyextending flange 22 slightly shorter than the frame. Securedto the end members of the frame 20 are inwardly opening channels 23 andsecured to the bottom member is an upwardly opening channel 24.

Received in the channels 23 and 24 is a rather heavy piece of frostedglass 25. The number plate 26 is stamped from a comparatively thin pieceof sheet metal, so that it can be made very cheaply, of suoli size astofit in the channels 23 and 24: in front of the glass 25. Indicatingcharacters 27 are cut from the plate 26, so as to be open, as shown forinstance in Figure 1.

In daylight the frosted glass shows clearly through the numbers andother indicating characters.

At the corners of the frame 2O are holes 28. After the frosted glass 25and the license plate 26 have been inserted in position supported by theframe 20, the upper edge of the frlalne 2O is slipped under the loweredge of the front member 14 and the lower part ot the frame 2O is thenswung to position sho-wn in Figure 2 with the flange 22 resting on thebottom member 1() and with the frame 2O standing adjacent to the flangesof the angles 19.

Screw bolts or the like 29 are extended through the holes 28 and screwed.into the angles 19. y

Mounted in the rear wall portion 11 and extending upwardly andt'orwardly, as shown in Figure is a bulb socket 30 in which is mountedan electric light bulb 31.

It will be seen that the light bulb 31 will have its rays directlythrown through the transparent sight glass 1T and through the glass 25and the openings 27 in the plate 26 and also that the rear wall members11 and 12 serve to reflect light rays through the sight glass 1T and theopenings in the number plate.

lhus a single bulb serves both tor illuminating the number plate kand asa tail light.

The trame 20 may be quickly and easily removed for substituting a newnumber plate 26. The number plate 26 because it is so yfirmly supportedmay be made of light gauge sheet metal at a very nominal expense.

The device may be readily used at the tront of the car by omitting' thesight glass 17.

Ordinarily tor a tail light, the sight glass is tinted red. It may beused at the front of the car tinted green or without being tinted or maybe omitted.

Secured to the rear wall member 11 is a plate or strap 32 havingfastened thereto a yoke or the like 33 adapted to receive a post 34 heldin place by a set screw 35 and mounted on the fender 36 or elsewhere onthe motor vehicle.

The vadvantages of a device of this Vkind may be largely seen from theforegoing description.

The number plate is thoroughly illuminated at night. It `can be seen ataconsiderable distance in the daytime, and for a farther distance whenlighted upat night.

This device is of artistic appearance, uses only one bulb and will lastas long as the car.

After having been once installed, the number plates for successivelicense years or periods can be made considerably cheaper than thenumber plates now used, because ol the tact that thinner metal can beused for the number plates, and no ribs need be em! ployed. One color ofpaint is all that is necessary for such number plates.

Some changes may be made in the details ot' the construction andarrangement of the parts oi' our improved device, without departing fromthe essential features and purposes of our invention, and it is ourintention to cover by our claim, any modified forms ot structure or useof mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within itsscope.

We claim as our invention:

ln a license plate and tail light structure, a casing having rear, top,bottom and end walls and a front wall, a light device in the casing, atransparent member mounted in the upper part of the front wall, saidfront wall having an opening in its lower portion, a removable framehaving on the inner side at its sides and lower part,-channel shapedguides and holders and having at its lower edge a flange, said tramebeing placed in said opening with said flange resting on the bottom wallof the casing and the upper edge of the frame overhung by the portion ofthe front wall above said opening, and a removable number plate receivedin said channels having; open portions forming indicating characters,and a translucent member behind said plate.

Des Moines, Iowa, February 20, 1924.

ROSS L. MORLAN. LOUIS J. COSTELLO.

